The Indonesian National Police (, abbreviated as POLRI) is the national
law enforcement
Law enforcement is the activity of some members of the government or other social institutions who act in an organized manner to enforce the law by investigating, deterring, rehabilitating, or punishing people who violate the rules and norms gove ...
and
police
The police are Law enforcement organization, a constituted body of Law enforcement officer, people empowered by a State (polity), state with the aim of Law enforcement, enforcing the law and protecting the Public order policing, public order ...
force of the
Republic of Indonesia
Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania, between the Indian Ocean, Indian and Pacific Ocean, Pacific oceans. Comprising over List of islands of Indonesia, 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, ...
. Founded on 1 July 1946, it was formerly a part of the
country's military since 1962. The police were formally separated from the armed forces on 1 April 1999 in a process which was formally completed on 1 July 1999.
The organization is now independent and is under the direct auspices of the
President of Indonesia
The president of the Republic of Indonesia () is the head of state and head of government of the Republic of Indonesia. The president is the leader of the executive branch of the Indonesian government and the commander-in-chief of the ...
. The Indonesian National Police is responsible for law enforcement and policing duties all over Indonesia. The organization is widely known for its corruption, violence/brutality, and incompetence.
The Indonesian National Police also takes part in international
United Nations
The United Nations (UN) is the Earth, global intergovernmental organization established by the signing of the Charter of the United Nations, UN Charter on 26 June 1945 with the stated purpose of maintaining international peace and internationa ...
missions, and, after special training, provided security for the
UNAMID mission to protect internally-displaced people in
Darfur
Darfur ( ; ) is a region of western Sudan. ''Dār'' is an Arabic word meaning "home f – the region was named Dardaju () while ruled by the Daju, who migrated from Meroë , and it was renamed Dartunjur () when the Tunjur ruled the area. ...
.
In total, per 2020 the total personnel that the Indonesian National Police possesses is 440,000, and the number is increasing every year, it includes 34,000
Brimob personnel, with up-to 7,000
water
Water is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula . It is a transparent, tasteless, odorless, and Color of water, nearly colorless chemical substance. It is the main constituent of Earth's hydrosphere and the fluids of all known liv ...
and
aviation
Aviation includes the activities surrounding mechanical flight and the aircraft industry. ''Aircraft'' include fixed-wing and rotary-wing types, morphable wings, wing-less lifting bodies, as well as lighter-than-air aircraft such as h ...
police personnel. Polri is also assisted by an estimated 1 million members of
Senkom Mitra Polri volunteers throughout the country which are
civilians that assist the police.
The headquarters of the Indonesian National Police is located in
Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta and the Indonesian National Police hotline-emergency number is 110 which serves all over Indonesia 24 hours.
History

While Indonesia was under
Dutch colonial rule, police duties were performed either by military establishments or the colonial police, known as the or ''field police''.
Japanese occupation during
World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
brought changes when the Japanese formed various armed organisations to support their war effort. This led to militarily-trained youths being armed with confiscated Dutch arms to perform police duties.
After the Japanese occupation, the national police became an armed organization. The Indonesian police was established on 19 August 1945 (under the title of the National Police Agency ()) and its units fought in the
Indonesian National Revolution
The Indonesian National Revolution (), also known as the Indonesian War of Independence (, ), was an armed conflict and diplomatic struggle between the Republic of Indonesia and the Dutch Empire and an internal social revolution during A ...
against the invading Dutch forces. The police would later be renamed the National Police Service () under the
Ministry of Home Affairs and on 1 June 1946, it became an independent agency under the
prime minister
A prime minister or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. A prime minister is not the head of state, but r ...
. The police also participated in suppressing the 1948 communist revolt in
Madiun. In 1962, the police was brought under the control of the Commander of the National Armed Forces and the Ministry of Defence, becoming the Indonesian Police Forces (). Following the
proclamation of independence, the police played a vital role when they actively supported the people's movement toa dismantle the Japanese army, and to strengthen the defence of the newly created Republic of Indonesia. The police were one of the non-combatants who were required to surrender their weapons to the
Allied forces. During the
Indonesian National Revolution
The Indonesian National Revolution (), also known as the Indonesian War of Independence (, ), was an armed conflict and diplomatic struggle between the Republic of Indonesia and the Dutch Empire and an internal social revolution during A ...
, the police gradually formed into what is now known as (Polri) or the Indonesian National Police. On 21 June 1962, the National Police was integrated under the
Armed Forces
A military, also known collectively as armed forces, is a heavily armed, highly organized force primarily intended for warfare. Militaries are typically authorized and maintained by a sovereign state, with their members identifiable by a ...
(ABRI) and changed its name to (Police Force), and its commander maintained the concurrent status of Minister of Defense and Security, reporting to the President, who is commander in chief. The commanding generals (later chiefs of staff) and the Chief of the National Police then all held ministerial status as members of the cabinet of the republic, while a number of higher-ranking officers were appointed to other cabinet posts. On 1 July 1969, the Police Force's name was reverted to "Polri". In April 1999, the police force officially regained its independence and since then has been a separate force from the armed forces proper.
1 July, which became National Police Day (''Hari Bhayangkara''), honours the anniversary of the 1946 Cabinet resolution placing the INP as a national agency subordinated directly to the government of the Republic and thus responsible to the President (formerly the Prime Minister).
Duties and tasks

The key tasks of the Indonesian National Police are to:
* maintain security and public order;
* enforce the law, and
* provide protection, and service to the community.
In carrying out these basic tasks, police are to:
* perform control, guard, escort and patrol of the community and government activities as needed;
* supply all activities to ensure the safety and smoothness of vehicular traffic on every kind of roadway,
* develop community awareness in the development of national law;
* implement order and ensure public safety;
* implement co-ordination, supervision, and technical guidance to the investigators, civil servants/authorities, and the forms of private security;
* implement the investigation against all criminal acts in accordance with the criminal procedure law and other legislation;
* implement identification such as police medical operations, psychology, and police forensic laboratory for the interests of the tasks set by the service,
* protect soul safety, property, society, and the environment from disturbances and/or disaster, including providing aid and relief to uphold human rights;
* serve interests of citizens for a while before it is handled by the agency and/or authorities;
* give services to the public in accordance with the interests of the police task environment;
* implement other duties in accordance with the Constitution and legislative acts, which in practice are regulated by Government Regulation;
* receive reports and/or complaints;
* perform crowd and public control;
* help resolve community disputes that may interfere with the public order;
* supervise the flow that can lead to the dismemberment or threaten the unity of the nation;
* publicise police regulations within the scope of police administrative authority;
* implement special examination as part of the police identification;
* respond first and rapid action to a scene;
* take the identity, fingerprints and photograph of a person for identification purposes;
* look for information and evidence;
* organise National Crime Information Centre;
* issue licence and / or certificate that is required to service the community;
* give security assistance in the trial and execution of court decisions, the activities of other agencies, as well as community activities; and
* receive, secure, and keep lost items located and found for a while until further identification
Hierarchy
The organization of the Indonesian National Police is hierarchical, headed by the POLRI general headquarters in
Kebayoran Baru
Kebayoran Baru is a List of districts of Jakarta, district () in the administrative city of South Jakarta, Indonesia. The name was derived from a planned satellite city of the same name which was developed in the Aftermath of World War II, post-wa ...
. There is no differentiation between the central organization with its regional components.
*Regional Police Force (, Polda) which covers an entire
province
A province is an administrative division within a country or sovereign state, state. The term derives from the ancient Roman , which was the major territorial and administrative unit of the Roman Empire, Roman Empire's territorial possessions ou ...
and is headed by a two-star police general (Police Inspector). It was formerly known as Police Commissariats () and Regional Police Commands (, Komdak).
*Resort/Departmental Police Force (, Polres) which covers a city or
regency
In a monarchy, a regent () is a person appointed to govern a state because the actual monarch is a minor, absent, incapacitated or unable to discharge their powers and duties, or the throne is vacant and a new monarch has not yet been dete ...
and is usually headed by a police officer holding the rank of Police Chief Commissioner for urban areas and a Police Deputy Chief Commissioner for rural areas. It was formerly known as Resort/Departmental Police Commands ().
*Sectoral Police Force (, Polsek) which covers a
district
A district is a type of administrative division that in some countries is managed by the local government. Across the world, areas known as "districts" vary greatly in size, spanning regions or county, counties, several municipality, municip ...
and is usually headed by a police officer holding the rank of Police Commissioner for urban areas and a Police Deputy Commissioner for rural areas. Meanwhile, in
Papua there are Polseks which are headed by officers with lesser ranks, such as Police Inspectors.
**Community Police Officers (, abbreviated Bhabinkamtibmas, ) are senior
NCOs/Sub-Inspectors of Police officers which are coordinated under the Sectoral Police office. They are tasked in mentoring, supervising, and maintaining law and order in a particular smaller community which usually covers an
urban village
In urban planning and urban design, design, an urban village is an urban development typically characterized by medium-density housing, mixed use zoning, good public transit and an emphasis on pedestrianization and public space. Contemporary urb ...
and/or a rural village (''desa''). They are identified by their yellow
brassard printed "BHABINKAMTIBMAS" and are tasked to monitor local community activities such as during
election
An election is a formal group decision-making process whereby a population chooses an individual or multiple individuals to hold Public administration, public office.
Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative d ...
s and/or other community gathering occasions.
Until 2010, there was also a police force division called Territorial Police Force (, Polwil, formerly , Komwik) positioned between Polda and Polres. Polwils' divisions were based on
Dutch East Indian residencies. The legacy of Polwils remain on the
vehicle code on Indonesian vehicle registration plates.
Organization
Leadership elements
The leadership elements headed not only the Police Force General Headquarters (, abbreviated Mabes Polri) in Jakarta, but also the entire Indonesian National Police Force.
* Chief of the Indonesian National Police (, abbreviated Kapolri). He is appointed by and answerable only to the President of Indonesia; and
* Deputy Chief of the Indonesian National Police (, abbreviated Wakapolri), who assists the Chief in managing the administration of the Police, representing the Chief in official duties, as well as executing other orders by the Chief.
Leadership support elements
Inspectorate
*General Inspectorate of the National Police (), tasked with assisting the Chief in the implementation of supervision as well as conducting general inspection and treasury within the National Police including non-structural organizational units under the control of chief of national police.
Assistants to the Chief of Police
*Assistant to the Chief of Police for Operations (), tasked with assisting the Chief of Police in the implementation of operational management functions within the police environment including external coordination and cooperation as well as community empowerment and other POLRI auxiliary elements.
*Assistant to the Chief of Police for General Planning and Budget (), tasked to assist the Chief of Police in the implementation of general planning and budgetary functions, including the development of organizational and management systems and research and development within the Indonesian national police.
*Assistant to the Chief of Police for Human Resources ('), tasked with assisting the Chief of Police in the implementation of human resources management functions, including efforts to maintain and improve the welfare of personnel within the Indonesian national police.
*Assistant to the Chief of Police for Law Enforcement Facilities and Infrastructure ('), tasked with assisting the Chief of Police in the implementation of the function of facilities and infrastructure within the National Police.
*Assistant to the Chief of Police for Logistics (') tasked with assisting the Chief of Police in the implementation of Police logistical efforts.
Divisions
*Professional and Security Division (') is the special staffing element in the field of professional accountability and internal security. This division acts as the
internal affairs of the Police Force, in charge of enforcement of discipline and law and order of police personnel.
*Legal Division (') serves as the legal office for the Chief of Police, tasked with the provision of legal research, legal support, legal advices, legal development, legal guidance, and human rights support within the Police Force.
*Public Affairs and Press Division (') tasked with maintaining the public image and relations of the Police Force, as well as providing publicly-accessible Police data, information, and documentations.
*International Relations Division (') is an assistant element of international relations leadership that is under the Chief of Police. This section also oversees the Indonesian National Crime Bureau Interpol, to deal with transnational crimes.
*Police Information Technology Division ('), is a supporting element in the field of informatics which includes information technology and electronic communications.
Advisory Staff
The Advisory Staff to the Chief of Police (') advises the Chief of Police regarding strategic matters. The advisory staff consists of:
*Advisory Staff Coordinator ('), which coordinates the advisory staff's workflow;
*Advisor to the Chief of Police for Socio-Cultural Affairs (');
*Advisor to the Chief of Police for Political Affairs (');
*Advisor to the Chief of Police for Economic Affairs ('); and
*Advisor to the Chief of Police for Management (').
Headquarters elements
* Executive Personal Staff (') provides technical and administrative support and assistance to the Police Chief and Deputy Chief in executing their duties.
* General Secretariat (') provides general secretarial and administrative support within the Police Headquarters.
* Headquarters Service (') provides technical support and other services within the Police Headquarters, including Headquarters facility management and maintenance.
Central executive agencies
*Baintelkam, or the Intelligence and Security Agency (') is responsible for fostering and performing intelligence functions in the field of security for the purpose of performing the operational and management duties of the national police as well as to support the implementation of government duties in order to realize domestic security.
*Bareskrim, or the
Criminal Investigation Agency (') is responsible for fostering and conducting criminal investigation and investigation functions, including the function of forensic laboratory identification, in the context of law enforcement.
*Baharkam, or the Security Maintenance Agency (') is responsible for fostering and conducting security guidance functions that include the maintenance and efforts to improve the security and public order conditions in order to achieve domestic security.
*Korbrimob, Brimob, or the
Mobile Brigade Corps
The Mobile Brigade Corps () abbreviated Brimob is the SWAT, special operations, paramilitary, and Police tactical unit, tactical unit of the Indonesian National Police (Polri). It is one of the oldest existing units within Polri. Some of its ma ...
(') is in charge of performing security counseling functions particularly with regard to the handling of high-intensity security disturbances, in the framework of enforcement of internal security.
*Korlantas, or the
Traffic Corps (') is responsible for fostering and organizing traffic functions that include community education, law enforcement, traffic assessment, registration and identification of drivers and motor vehicles, and conducting road patrols.
*Densus 88, or the
Detachment 88 Anti-Terror Special Unit (') is responsible for carrying out intelligence, prevention, investigation, enforcement and operational support functions in the investigation and investigation of
terrorism
Terrorism, in its broadest sense, is the use of violence against non-combatants to achieve political or ideological aims. The term is used in this regard primarily to refer to intentional violence during peacetime or in the context of war aga ...
.
Supporting elements
*Police Education and Training Institute (') or Lemdiklat for short, is in charge of planning, developing, and organizing the function of education and training in formation and development of and to the scope of the Indonesian National Police for ensuring education of recruits or personnel which are specializing in particular policing units which includes the maintaining of professionalism, managerial, academic, and vocational education. Lemdiklat is responsible for the operation of the following educational institutions:
**National Police Staff College (') is the education implementing element and special staff educational institution related to the development of police management and administration within the officer corps. It consists of: (1) National Police Advanced Officers College ('), (2) National Police Junior Staff College ('), and (3) National Police Command and Staff College (').
**
Police Academy (') is the element of officer rank formation of Police recruits.
**Police Higher Education College (') is an education and staffing element concerned with higher education and the development of
police science.
**Police Officers' Candidate School (') is the element of education for the formation of Police Officers to become officer rank originating from enlisted or constable ranks of policemen and policewomen.
**Police Baccalaureate Inspector School (') is the element of education for the establishment of Police officer from graduates with
bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree (from Medieval Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six years ...
, rather than via the Police Academy or Police Officer's Candidate School.
**Police Education and Training Centers (').
*Police Medical and Health Center ('), including the Raden Said Soekanto National Police Central Hospital (') in
Jakarta
Jakarta (; , Betawi language, Betawi: ''Jakartè''), officially the Special Capital Region of Jakarta (; ''DKI Jakarta'') and formerly known as Batavia, Dutch East Indies, Batavia until 1949, is the capital and largest city of Indonesia and ...
, tasked with Police Force health administration, Police physical and psychological fitness, and Police healthcare.
*Police Finance Center (') tasked with Police Force financial management and administration.
*Police Research and Development Center (') tasked with Police Force research and development program management, research and development in public safety and order, research and development in public service, and other research and development functions.
*Police Historical and Heritage Center ('), tasked with researching, documenting, recording, managing, educating, and collecting Police Force's historical memories, objects, and events. It also manages the Police Force Headquarters museum and library.
Regional Police
*The Regional Police of the Republic of Indonesia (Polda) is the main implementing unit of territoriality under the Chief of Police. Polda is responsible for carrying out national police duties at province level. A "Polda" is headed by a Regional Chief of Police (Kapolda), which is responsible to the Chief of national Police (Kapolri) and holds the rank of either Inspector General or Brigadier General. Kapolda is assisted by Deputy Chief of Police (Wakapolda).
*The Regional Police (Polda) is responsible for the Departmental Police of the Republic of Indonesia (Polres) which covers a city or district/municipal level in that province. For big cities, Departamental Police (Polres) forces are called Metropolitan Police (Polrestabes), and for the urban type it is named only City Police (Polresta). The Polres has a complete police task force, like a Polda, and is led by a Police Chief Commissioner (Kombes) (for city police) or Police Superintendent (AKBP) for regency police.
*Sectoral Police (Polsek) are led by a Police Superintendent (AKBP) or Police Commissioner (Kompol) (for urban divisions), while in other Poldas, Polseks are led by officers of Police chief inspector (AKP) rank for Rural areas. In some areas which are remote like
Papua, a Polsek may be led by a Police Inspector 2nd Class (Ipda).
Each Regional Police headquarters (''Polda'') which covers a province oversees the following directorates:
*Criminal Investigation Directorate
**Sub-directorate of Criminal Affairs
**Sub-Directorate for Crimes of Violence (''Jatanras'')
**Sub-directorate for Teens, Children and Women affairs
**Inafis Unit (Indonesia Automatic Finger Print Identification System) / Identification of TKP (Crime Scene)
*Directorate of Special Crimes Investigation
**Sub-Directorate of Corruption
**Sub-directorate of Land and building Property (''Hardabangtah'')
**Sub-directorate of Cyber Crimes
*Directorate of Drug Investigation
**Narcotics Subdivision
**Psychotropic subdivision
*Directorate of Intelligence and Security
*Directorate of Traffic Security
**Sub Directorate of Education and Conjecture (''Dikyasa'')
**Sub Directorate of Registration and Identification (''Regident'')
**Sub Directorate of Traffic Law Enforcement (''Gakkum'')
**Sub Directorate of Road Security and Safety (''Kamsel'')
**Sub Directorate of Road Escort and Patrol (''Patwal'')
**Sub Directorate of
Highway patrol
A highway patrol is a police unit, detail, or law enforcement agency created primarily for the purpose of overseeing and enforcing traffic safety compliance on roads and highways within a jurisdiction. They are also referred to in many countri ...
(PJR)
*Animal Unit (''Unit Satwa'') - (mounted police and K9 dogs)
*Directorate of Community Guidance and Development (''Bimmas'', formerly ''Bina Mitra'')
*Patrol Units (Sabhara) Directorate - ("Alert Unit")
*Directorate of VIP and Important Facility Protection (''Pamobvit'')
*Directorate of
Water police and Aviation (''Polairud'')
*Directorate of Prisoners and Evidence Gathering (''Tahti'')
*Operations Bureau
*Human Resources Bureau
*Bureau of Infrastructure Facilities (''Sarpras'', formerly Logistic)
*Finance Office
*Bureau of internal Profession and Security (''Propam'') - (
Internal affairs unit)
*Law Bureau
*Public Relations and Press Service
*Regional Police Medical Bureau
Units
Special units
Public units
The following fall under department police headquarters (Polres) of cities and regencies:
Rank structure
In the early years, the Indonesian Police used European style police ranks, like "
Brigadier
Brigadier ( ) is a military rank, the seniority of which depends on the country. In some countries, it is a senior rank above colonel, equivalent to a brigadier general or commodore (rank), commodore, typically commanding a brigade of several t ...
", "
Inspector
Inspector, also police inspector or inspector of police, is a police rank. The rank or position varies in seniority depending on the organization that uses it.
Australia
The rank of Inspector is present in all Australian police forces excep ...
", and "
Commissioner
A commissioner (commonly abbreviated as Comm'r) is, in principle, a member of a commission or an individual who has been given a commission (official charge or authority to do something).
In practice, the title of commissioner has evolved to incl ...
". When the police were amalgamated with the military structure during the 1960s, the
armed forces' ranking system was brought in, using ranks such as "Captain", "Major", and "Colonel". In the year 2000, when the Indonesian Police transitioned into a fully independent force, they used British style ranks like "
Constable
A constable is a person holding a particular office, most commonly in law enforcement. The office of constable can vary significantly in different jurisdictions. ''Constable'' is commonly the rank of an officer within a police service. Other peo ...
" and "
Superintendent", but returned to their original ranking system a year later, albeit with some ''Indonesianized'' elements to help bolster national pride.
The following ranks are only used by personnel serving in the
Mobile Brigade Corps
The Mobile Brigade Corps () abbreviated Brimob is the SWAT, special operations, paramilitary, and Police tactical unit, tactical unit of the Indonesian National Police (Polri). It is one of the oldest existing units within Polri. Some of its ma ...
and
Water police units:
Issues
Corruption
In the eyes of the people, the National Police force is "corrupt, brutal, and inept".
Even becoming a police officer can be expensive, with applicants having to pay up to , according to Indonesia Police Watch head, Neta Saputra Pane.
In April 2009, angry that the
Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) had tapped his phone while investigating a corruption case, Indonesian Police chief detective
Susno Duadji compared the KPK to a gecko () fighting a crocodile () meaning the police. Susno's comment, as it turned out, quickly backfired because the image of a ''cicak'' standing up to a ''buaya'' (similar to
David and Goliath imagery) immediately had wide appeal in Indonesia. A noisy popular movement in support of the ''cicak'' quickly emerged. Students staged pro-''cicak'' demonstrations, many newspapers ran cartoons with ''cicaks'' lining up against an ugly ''buaya'', and numerous TV talk shows took up the ''cicak'' versus ''buaya'' topic with enthusiasm. As a result, references to ''cicaks'' fighting a ''buaya'' have become a well-known part of the political imagery of Indonesia.
In June 2010, the Indonesian news magazine
Tempo
In musical terminology, tempo (Italian for 'time'; plural 'tempos', or from the Italian plural), measured in beats per minute, is the speed or pace of a given musical composition, composition, and is often also an indication of the composition ...
published a report on "fat bank accounts" held by senior police officers containing billions of rupiah. When the magazine went on sale in the evening groups of men said by witnesses to be police officers, went to newsstands with piles of cash to try to buy all the copies before they could be sold.
When KPK investigators tried to search Polri headquarters in 2010 as part of an investigation into Djoko Susilo, then the head of Korlantas (police corps of traffic), they were detained, and only released following the intervention of the president,
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (born 9 September 1949), commonly referred to as SBY, is an Indonesian politician and retired Indonesian Army, army general who served as the sixth president of Indonesia from 2004 to 2014 and the second president of Ind ...
. Following a trial, Djoko was jailed for 18 years. Two years later, the KPK began investigating another senior police officer, Budi Gunawan, who was subsequently nominated for the post of National Police Chief. The KPK then named Budi a suspect and his nomination was withdrawn. However, he was later sworn in as deputy police chief. The police subsequently took revenge by charging three KPK commissioners with criminal offenses.
Violence and human rights abuses
Amnesty International
Amnesty International (also referred to as Amnesty or AI) is an international non-governmental organization focused on human rights, with its headquarters in the United Kingdom. The organization says that it has more than ten million members a ...
has accused Polri of "widespread" torture and other abuses of arrested individuals. According to the organization, "Police in Indonesia shoot, beat and even kill people without fear of prosecution, leaving their victims with little hope of justice".
In 2014 the
Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch (HRW) is an international non-governmental organization that conducts research and advocacy on human rights. Headquartered in New York City, the group investigates and reports on issues including War crime, war crimes, crim ...
reported that a physical
virginity test is routinely performed on female applicants to the police force.
An official admission of violence by police officers came in 2016 when Chief Gen. Badrodin Haiti admitted that officers of the
Detachment 88 anti-terror unit were responsible for the death in custody of terrorist suspect Siyono, who died of heart failure after being kicked hard enough in the chest to fracture his ribs. The
Indonesian National Commission on Human Rights stated in March 2016 that at least 121 terror suspects had died in custody since 2007
Amnesty International
Amnesty International (also referred to as Amnesty or AI) is an international non-governmental organization focused on human rights, with its headquarters in the United Kingdom. The organization says that it has more than ten million members a ...
called in June 2019 for an investigation of "credible evidence" of a range of grave violations by police, who it alleged were responsible for 10 unlawful killings in the aftermath of the re-election of president Joko Widodo.
In July 2020, the Indonesian
Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (KontraS) issued a report detailing police brutality over the preceding year that resulted in 304 deaths and 1,627 injuries in 921 violent incidents. The report also mentioned arbitrary arrests of people demonstrating legally, and acts of discrimination towards
ethnic Papuans. The following year, the same organization reported 651 acts of violence against civilians resulting in 13 deaths and 98 injuries. Most of the deaths were caused by excessive violence and arbitrary shootings.
In the summer of 2022, an investigation into the
murder of Nofriansyah Yosua Hutabarat, an Indonesian police officer, overcame an alleged cover-up by police generals to conceal an alleged premeditated murder committed by Inspector General
Ferdy Sambo, head of internal affairs of the Indonesian National Police, and four others,
including Sambo's wife.
The chair of Indonesia Police Watch called the affair "the worst scandal in the police's history".
Ferdy Sambo was sentenced to death (later commuted to life imprisonment), with Amnesty Indonesia stating "the case should serve as a reminder to the police that it needed to make serious improvements in its internal operations and that this was not the first time that a police officer had been involved in an extrajudicial killing".
On 1 October 2022, Indonesian riot police deployed tear gas inside
Kanjuruhan Stadium in response to a pitch invasion and clashes with football supporters, which triggered a
stampede of people in the stadium trying to escape from the effects of the gas. A crush formed at an exit, resulting in fans being
asphyxiated. As a result, 134 people died, and more than 500 were injured. The
National Commission on Human Rights in Indonesia (KOMNAS HAM) investigated the use of tear gas by police, and found that the Indonesian National Police were one of 6 parties responsible for the tragedy due to excessive use of tear gas inside the stadium. Other visual investigations, such as one b
Narasi also highlighted the force's excessive use of tear gas. Out of the 3 commanding officers that were charged for giving the order for tear gas to be fired, only 1 was given an 18-month sentence, whilst the other officers were acquitted, in a verdict deemed "an offense to the public's sense of justice".
Equipment
Firearms

The standard issue sidearm to all Indonesian National Police officers is the
Taurus Model 82 revolver in
.38 Special. While police personnel attached to special units such as
Detachment 88, Gegana and
BRIMOB are issued with the
Glock 17 semi-automatic pistol.
Heavy arms are always available to Indonesian police personnel, such as the
Heckler & Koch MP5 sub-machine gun,
Remington 870 shotgun,
Steyr AUG assault rifle,
AK-101,
M4 carbine
The M4 carbine (officially Carbine, Caliber 5.56 mm, M4) is a 5.56×45mm NATO assault rifle developed in the United States during the 1980s. It is a shortened version of the M16A2 assault rifle. The M4 is extensively used by the US mi ...
,
SIG MCX,
SIG MPX,
M1 Carbine
The M1 carbine (formally the United States carbine, caliber .30, M1) is a lightweight semi-automatic carbine chambered in the .30 carbine (7.62×33mm) cartridge that was issued to the U.S. military during World War II, the Korean War, and t ...
. and other weapons. The standard rifle for the Indonesian National Police are the
Pindad SS1 and the
M16 rifle
The M16 (officially Rifle, Caliber 5.56 mm, M16) is a family of assault rifles adapted from the ArmaLite AR-15 rifle for the United States Armed Forces, United States military. The original M16 was a 5.56×45mm NATO, 5.56×45mm automatic ...
. Units are also issued the
"Sabhara"/Police V1-V2 Pindad SS1 special law enforcement assault rifle.
Police vehicles
The police vehicles that are usually operated by the Indonesian Police ("Polri") for
patrol and
law enforcement
Law enforcement is the activity of some members of the government or other social institutions who act in an organized manner to enforce the law by investigating, deterring, rehabilitating, or punishing people who violate the rules and norms gove ...
activities are mainly,
Mitsubishi Lancer,
Hyundai Elantra (for some police regions),
Mitsubishi Strada/Triton,
Isuzu D-Max
The Isuzu D-Max is a pickup truck manufactured since 2002 by Isuzu. A successor of the Isuzu Faster/KB, the first and second-generation model shares its platform with the Chevrolet Colorado. The third-generation model shares its platform wi ...
,
Nissan Almera,
Ford Ranger and
Nissan Navara. Such vehicles are usually operated by the "Sabhara" police unit and other units which the vehicles are mainly colored dark-
grey
Grey (more frequent in British English) or gray (more frequent in American English) is an intermediate color between black and white. It is a neutral or achromatic color, meaning that it has no chroma. It is the color of a cloud-covered s ...
. In some areas, usually in rural places, the vehicles are not up-to date compared to the ones in the major urban areas in the country, so some police vehicles still use older versions such as the
Toyota Kijang and
Mitsubishi Kuda.
Special Investigation units usually operate in black
Toyota Avanza and some are unmarked vehicles. Police laboratory and forensics ("Puslabfor") units are issued dark-grey police
Suzuki APV,
Isuzu D-Max
The Isuzu D-Max is a pickup truck manufactured since 2002 by Isuzu. A successor of the Isuzu Faster/KB, the first and second-generation model shares its platform with the Chevrolet Colorado. The third-generation model shares its platform wi ...
,
Ford Ranger,
Toyota Fortuner or
Mitsubishi Fuso Canter vehicles.
The Traffic Police Corps ("Korlantas") usually uses vehicles such as the
Mazda 6,
Mitsubishi Lancer,
Mitsubishi Galant V6,
Toyota Vios,
Toyota Corolla
The is a series of compact cars (formerly Subcompact car, subcompact) manufactured and marketed globally by the Japanese automaker Toyota Motor Corporation. Introduced in 1966, the Corolla was the best-selling car worldwide by 1974 and has bee ...
,
Hyundai Ioniq,
Mitsubishi Pajero,
Toyota Fortuner (usually for escort),
Hyundai Elantra,
Tesla Model 3 (mostly in
Jakarta
Jakarta (; , Betawi language, Betawi: ''Jakartè''), officially the Special Capital Region of Jakarta (; ''DKI Jakarta'') and formerly known as Batavia, Dutch East Indies, Batavia until 1949, is the capital and largest city of Indonesia and ...
), Ford Ranger,
Hino Dutro,
Isuzu MU-X, and
Toyota Hilux (coloured white and blue). Some vehicles for traffic patrol are also used such as the
Toyota Rush and
Daihatsu Terios and suzuki grand vittara.
Sedan types are usually used for highway and road patrolling and escort.
Double-Cab types are usually used for Traffic incidents and traffic management law enforcement activities.
Police vehicles coloured
orange usually
Ford Focus and
Mitsubishi Lancer sedans and white-
orange Chevrolet Captiva are operated by the Vital Object Protection unit ("Pam Obvit") and usually parked outside and operated for international embassies, airports, and other special specified locations. It is also used by the Tourist police for patrol.
For the paramilitary police,
counter-terrorism
Counterterrorism (alternatively spelled: counter-terrorism), also known as anti-terrorism, relates to the practices, military tactics, techniques, and strategies that governments, law enforcement, businesses, and intelligence agencies use to co ...
and anti-riot units such as the
Mobile Brigade or "Brimob",
Detachment 88 and "
Gegana" units usually use special costumed vehicles for special operations such as the
Pindad Komodo
The Pindad Komodo or Pindad Dragon for export markets is a 4x4 light armored car developed and produced by Pindad. The vehicle was developed after President of Indonesia, Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono made a visit to Pindad's ma ...
, Barracuda 4x4
Light Armoured personnel carrier or light APC, Panus 4x4 Light Armored Patrol Car, DAPC 1/2 4x4 Light Armoured Transport Vehicle, and modified armored
Mitsubishi Strada,
Nissan Terrano and other special double-cabin and
SUV vehicle types. Vehicles are coloured dark-grey with the bumper coloured
orange identifying vehicles of the special police units. Some special operational "Gegana" and "Densus 88" vehicles are coloured
black
Black is a color that results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without chroma, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness.Eva Heller, ''P ...
also with
orange bumpers.
Other customised vehicles used for mobilisation of police personnel are usually modified
Suzuki Mega Carry,
Isuzu Elf and
Toyota Dyna with horizontal side sitting facilities inside of the trunk covered by dark colored canvas for canopy. Costumed patrol pick-ups with mounted sitting facilities on the trunk covered with canopy are also operated by the police to carry police personnel during
patrol, the pick-ups are usually
Isuzu Panther pick-ups and usually operate in rural areas.
For high-ranking officers (usually generals), issued cars are usually grey (some black) full to compact
sedans and Mid to Full-sized
SUVs. Such cars are mainly
chauffeur
A chauffeur () is a person employed to drive a passenger motor vehicle, especially a luxury vehicle such as a large sedan or a limousine.
Initially, such drivers were often personal employees of the vehicle owner, but this has changed to s ...
ed
Toyota Camry,
Hyundai Sonata,
Toyota Land Cruiser
The , also sometimes spelt as LandCruiser, is a series of four-wheel drive vehicles produced by the Japanese automobile manufacturer Toyota. It is Toyota's longest running series of models. , the sales of the Land Cruiser totalled more than 1 ...
,
Suzuki Grand Vitara and
Toyota Prado. Some use black
Toyota Innova
The Toyota Innova is a series of multi-purpose vehicles (MPV) manufactured by the Japanese carmaker Toyota since 2004, mainly sold with three-row seating.
The Innova is the replacement for wagon versions of Kijang (internally known as the To ...
.
Ford Focus mostly not used anymore for Korlantas and Sabhara only small uses, while MPVs like
Honda Mobilio and Toyota Innova sometimes used for Korlantas unit for patrol and escort.
File:Indonesian police patrol car.jpg, A Mitsubishi Lancer patrol car used by Sabhara patrol unit officers
File:Indonesian traffic police car.jpg, A Mazda6 patrol car used by the Traffic unit
File:Madiun Indonesia Police-car-01.jpg, A Customized Ford Ranger used by the Mobile Brigade Corps
The Mobile Brigade Corps () abbreviated Brimob is the SWAT, special operations, paramilitary, and Police tactical unit, tactical unit of the Indonesian National Police (Polri). It is one of the oldest existing units within Polri. Some of its ma ...
File:Komodo APC variant Indodefence 2012.jpg, A Pindad Komodo
The Pindad Komodo or Pindad Dragon for export markets is a 4x4 light armored car developed and produced by Pindad. The vehicle was developed after President of Indonesia, Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono made a visit to Pindad's ma ...
Indonesian Mobile Brigade special police tactical vehicle
File:BRIMOB vehicle.jpg, Police Mobile Brigade riot vehicle
File:Yamaha Police Indonesia.JPG, Yamaha XJ900P Indonesian Traffic police motorcycle
File:Barracuda water cannon (front view).jpg, Barracuda APC Mobile Brigade riot control vehicle
File:Friendly Police van, Bali, August 2012. (7819367248).jpg, Daihatsu Gran Max Indonesian Tourist Police Service Van
File:Indonesian patrol in car, Sekilas Lintas Kepolisian Republik Indonesia, p32.jpg, An Indonesian Police patrol vehicle circa 1976
File:IndonesianK9police vehicle.jpg, An Indonesian K9 Police Unit Vehicle
File:Indonesian off road police motorbike.jpg, Police Off-Road Kawasaki KLX 250 units
Uniform
The National Police Force of Indonesia had changes for uniform colours on at least three separate occasions. The periods are:
* Since first formed until mid-'70s, the uniform colour was
khaki like the current
Indian Police uniform.
* Since the late '70s until mid-'90s, the uniform colour was
light brown and
brown
Brown is a color. It can be considered a composite color, but it is mainly a darker shade of orange. In the CMYK color model used in printing and painting, brown is usually made by combining the colors Orange (colour), orange and black.
In the ...
.
* Since mid-'90s until now the colour are brownish grey and dark brown.
Based on the regulation of the Chief of the Indonesian National Police, there are four types of uniform worn by police personnel which are:
* ceremonial uniform (PDU: PDU-I, PDU-II, PDU-III, PDU-IV)
* parade uniform (PDP: PDU Danup, PDU Danpas)
* service uniform (PDH: with uniform, and without uniform)
* field uniform (PDL: PDL-I, PDL-II which are PDL-II Two Tone, PDL-II Brimob Camo, PDL-II Black, PDL-II Reconnaissance, PDL-II Cavalry, PDL-II Highway Patrol, PDL-II Marine and Air Police)
Ceremonial and service uniform are equipped with
gorget paches (officially called "
Monogram
A monogram is a motif (visual arts), motif made by overlapping or combining two or more letters or other graphemes to form one symbol. Monograms are often made by combining the initials of an individual or a company, used as recognizable symbo ...
"). Higher officers (Brigadier General above) wear red while the rest wear dark brown.
Field and service uniform are equipped with office badge on left sleeve, and corps badge on the right sleeve. Officer with command held wears his/her DUI (Lencana Tanda Jabatan) on the right pocket of the dress or service uniform and usually carries
baton (called tongkat komando) while others don't.
Headgears and beret colors:
*Red - Criminal Investigation Units ("Reserse", from Dutch word
recherche) - don't wear berets during investigative work. They sometimes wear white dress shirt with red tie.
*Dark Blue beret -
Mobile Brigade Corps (Brimob)
*Blackish Dark Brown beret - "Sabhara"
*Light Blue beret - Internal Affairs Division (Police Provosts)
*White
Peaked cap
A peaked cap, peaked hat, service cap, barracks cover, or combination cap is a form of headgear worn by the armed forces of many nations, as well as many uniformed civilian organisations such as law enforcement agencies and fire departments. It d ...
with blue and white
Sillitoe tartan
Sillitoe tartan is a distinctive chequered pattern, usually black-and-white or blue-and-white, which was originally associated with the Police Scotland, police in Scotland. It later gained widespread use in the rest of the United Kingdom and ov ...
- Traffic Police
* Navy Blue - Marine and Air Police
National Police Pledge (''Tribrata'')
The National Police Pledge is a pledge of loyalty and fidelity of all sworn personnel and constables to the government and people of Indonesia, the principles of nationhood and the Constitution.
Personnel
File:Brimob pelopor.png, Brimob personnel
File:Indonesian mobile brigade riot police.jpg, Brimob personnel during Riot control
File:SABHARA.jpg, Sabhara personnel
File:Polisi patroli.jpg, Sabhara Patrolmen
File:Indonesian police provosts.jpg, Internal Affairs officers (known locally as Police Provosts)
File:Jakarta Indonesia Police-officers-01.jpg, Traffic Policemen
File:Staff in front of the Police Criminal Investigation Department, Tangerang, Banten, Indonesia, Spring, 2016.jpg, Criminal Detective Unit personnel
File:Taruna akpol.jpg, Police Academy Cadets
File:Indonesian mounted police.jpg, Mounted Police
File:Indonesian K9 unit, Sekilas Lintas Kepolisian Republik Indonesia, p58.jpg, K9 Policemen circa 1970s
File:Indonesian search and rescue airmen, Sekilas Lintas Kepolisian Republik Indonesia, p47.jpg, Police Aviation personnel
File:Polairud.jpg, Water Policemen
File:Polisi Udara.jpg, Police Aviation officers
File:Mobile Brigade officers and equipment.jpg, Brimob Riot control personnel
File:Polisi lalu lintas.jpg, Motorcycle Traffic policeman
File:Gegana bomb disposal.jpg, Gegana Bomb Disposal operator
List of Chiefs of Police (''Kapolri'')
In popular culture
Film
*Menumpas Teroris, 1986 - starring
Barry Prima and
El Manik
*Arie Hanggara, 1985 - A true story of the death of an 8-year-old boy by his stepmother starring
Deddy Mizwar
*The Police, 2009 - starring Vino G. Bastian
*
The Raid, 2011 - starring
Iko Uwais
Uwais Qorny (), known professionally as Iko Uwais, (born 12 February 1983) is an Indonesian actor, stuntman, fight choreographer, and martial artist. He is best known for acting in the action films '' Merantau'' (2009), '' The Raid'' (2011), '' ...
,
Joe Taslim and
Donny Alamsyah
*
Java Heat, 2013 - starring
Kellan Lutz
Kellan Christopher Lutz (born March 15, 1985) is an American actor, martial artist and model. He made his film debut in '' Stick It'' (2006), and is best known for playing Emmett Cullen in ''The Twilight Saga'' film series (2008–2012). He has ...
,
Ario Bayu and
Mickey Rourke
*22 Minutes, 2018 - starring Ario Bayu
*Sayap Sayap Patah, 2022 - Based from
2018 Mako Brimob standoff starring
Nicholas Saputra and Ariel Tatum
Television
* 86 - 2014–present (based on show
Cops), shown on
NET TV every Monday to Friday at 6 am
Western Indonesian Time
* The Police, every day at 11 pm
Western Indonesian Time on
Trans 7
*Cleansing Kalijodo,
2016. Starring
Ario Bayu (as then-Chief of Penjaringan Sectoral Police Police Captain Krishna Murti) and
Fauzi Baadila (as Daeng Aziz) on
Crime + Investigation
See also
*
Indonesian Military (TNI)
*
Criminal Investigation Agency (''Bareskrim'')
*
Mobile Brigade Corps
The Mobile Brigade Corps () abbreviated Brimob is the SWAT, special operations, paramilitary, and Police tactical unit, tactical unit of the Indonesian National Police (Polri). It is one of the oldest existing units within Polri. Some of its ma ...
*
Detachment 88 (Densus 88) AT
*
Gegana
*
Municipal Police (Indonesia)
The Municipal Police Unit (, or translated as "Public Order Enforcers Police" or simply 'Municipal Police', abbreviated as Satpol PP or POL PP), are municipal police units throughout Indonesia which are under the control of the local governments ...
*
Military Police Corps (Indonesia)
*
Army Military Police Corps (Indonesia)
References
*
Further reading
* Amnesty International. (2009) "Indonesia: Unfinished Business: Police Accountability in Indonesia" (24 June 2009)
* International Crisis Group. (2001) ''Indonesia : National Police reform''. Jakarta / Brussels : International Crisis Group. ICG Asia report; no.13
* David Jansen. (2008) "Relations among security and law enforcement institutions in Indonesia", ''Contemporary Southeast Asia'', Vol.30, No.3, 429–54
* "Networked Security in Indonesia: The Case of the Police in Yogyakarta." Doctoral Dissertation, Australian National University (April 2010).
External links
*
*
Indonesian National Police official news portal
{{Law enforcement in Indonesia
Law enforcement agencies of Indonesia
Law enforcement in Indonesia
National Central Bureaus of Interpol
National police forces